The 25 best Kate Bush songs of all time

What, no Red Shoes? The debate still rages on the Kate Bush Top 25 but here’s what you – and some of your favourite artists – voted for...

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Much like any iconic, genre-spanning artist, picking the best songs from Kate Bush’s back catalogue is a nigh-on-impossible task… Which is why we handed the job over to you guys. Back in 2011, Prog Magazine ran a poll with its readers – and some of the prog world’s biggest stars – to gather intel as to what Kate Bush’s most career-defining songs really are. The results might surprise you…

25) Aerial (from Aerial, 2005)

“Euphoric and pastoral? With a break for heavenly birdsong and uproarious giggles, the propulsive, rave-tastic final track on this eclectic double disc climaxed a truly glorious comeback.” - Babs Booshker, Kent

24) Oh England My Lionheart (from Lionheart, 1978)

“Reminds me of death. This will be my funeral song, I love it so. A patriotism-inducing dirge fest of the highest quality. I need to be back in London on a summer’s day when I hear this.” - Jane D’Cruz, via email

22) Army Dreamers (from Never For Ever, 1980)

21) Kite (from The Kick Inside, 1978)

“What she does in this song is to bring a touch of humour by adding a flavour of reggae and funk to keep the groove going. It brings a good feeling that we can fly out of the situations that we’re in and fly and never come back.” - Zachary Nathanson, via email

12) There Goes A Tenner (from The Dreaming, 1982)

11) The Fog (from The Sensual World, 1989)

“The bond she has with her father moves me to tears.” - Laura Dent, via email

10) The Sensual World (from The Sensual World, 1989)

“Such a warm, welcoming opening to the album featuring such a lush video I have to include it in my top three choices.” - Nicholas Payne, via email

9) Wow (from Lionheart, 1978)

“Who can write a song like that these days? Nobody.” - Tarja Turunen

8) Delius (Song Of Summer) (from Never For Ever, 1980)

“Curiously, not from The Dreaming, which is my favourite album!” - Kavus Torabi, Knifeworld

7) The Man With The Child In His Eyes (from The Kick Inside, 1978)

“It’s the most beautiful song, from start to finish, and is just exquisitely written. The lyric is so dreamy and haunting, and of course the chorus resonates with so many people.” - Anne-Marie Helder, Panic Room

6) Breathing (from Never For Ever, 1980)

“Kate’s proggiest moment, in my opinion. This is where Kate shows she’s as good as Peter Gabriel at evoking an atmosphere.” - Jed Levin, via email

4) Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) (from Hounds Of Love, 1985)

3) Cloudbusting (from Hounds Of Love, 1985)

“Magnificent and involving, and it had a great video too.” - Daria Bianchini, via email

2) Wuthering Heights (from The Kick Inside, 1978)

“Where it all began. Utterly brilliant and totally bonkers. You may think that you’ve heard it too often, but then it surprises you all over again.” - Mark Fergusson, via email

1) The Ninth Wave (B-side suite, Hounds Of Love, 1985)

“Her complete approach is both incredibly pure and feminine, yet overwhelmingly powerful all at once. This song is, for me, simply spellbinding and manages to cover me in goose bumps every time I hear it.” - Heather Findlay